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Legally Reviewed by:

Jonathan Rosenfeld
J.D

March 2, 2023

Over $400 Million worth of case results

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After the shock of a Chicago automobile accident, you may find that you have injured your ankle or foot (fibula, tibia, metatarsal, ankle fracture, etc.). Ankle fractures or sprains and broken bones generally can happen in many ways, but the ubiquity of the injury does not mean it is not serious.

Ankle and foot injuries create immense pain and suffering and are common after car accidents, but they’re also difficult to treat and lead to complex regional pain syndrome.

The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC fight for personal injury victims harmed in automobile accidents, including those with ankle, foot, and other injuries. Our car accident attorneys bring claims so that victims can obtain the ankle injury settlement they deserve to make up for the harm and cost of the crash.

foot-ankle-injury-car-accident-case-valuation-settlements

Should you injure your foot and ankle in a car accident, your first step is to seek medical help, immediately contact our law firm, and speak to one of our car accident lawyers in a free consultation about your serious injuries.

The foot and ankle are often neglected in foot injury settlements for personal injuries caused by car accidents. It’s important to know how much your case is worth so that you can negotiate with insurance companies or pursue legal action if necessary.

We can help you estimate what settlement value and other financial compensation may be available. The next sections review these personal injury cases in more detail, but please use our contact form if you have any other questions.

Our legal team maintains the confidential or sensitive information you share with us through an attorney-client relationship as private.

How Ankles and Feet Are Injured in Chicago Car Crashes

While you might think feet and ankles are tough, resilient parts of the body, they are routinely damaged in automobile accidents across the Chicagoland area and other parts of Illinois. Part of that stems from the recklessly high speeds that some motorists drive at and some of that stems from the larger size of preferred motor vehicles.

Whatever the case, you still need to be aware of how these parts of the body are frequently harmed, such as the following:

  • Blunt trauma: A foot might bang against the dashboard or floorboard, leading to a foot injury like a heel bone (calcaneus) or middle foot (Lisfranc) fracture.
  • Twists: A medial malleolus fractured ankle might occur when the leg is turned over as the car spins around.
  • Lacerations: Shards of broken glass might break into and cut the feet.
  • Ligament tears: Many ankle fracture cases also involve torn ligaments.
  • Bruising: High impact forces could leave the feet badly bruised even when injury does not appear to have occurred.

Foot or ankle fracture is frequent in car accidents, especially in rollovers that occur after high-speed crashes into guardrails, trees, and other objects. In addition, the foot might suffer a break simply from being smashed against the brake pedal.

Something else about cars that leads to injury is how close they can come to other drivers and surrounding pedestrians. If dealt too close to another vehicle, there is a potential that your left foot or lower leg could get crushed.

Another problem is if you are lying on the road, injured but not dead, car tires might run over your outstretched body parts, including the feet and ankles. This injury can even happen after an accident has already occurred.

Be careful as you drive through the streets of Chicago, especially if you are the operator or front-seat passenger. Your feet and ankles are at greater risk than you might imagine.

Facts about Feet and Ankle Injuries in Auto Accidents

  • Thousands of people injure their feet and ankles every year in car crashes.
  • Ankle injuries only occur in roughly three percent of all motor vehicle incidents.
  • Ankle and foot injuries can be some of the most expensive outcomes from a car accident due to their surgical and rehabilitative demands.
  • Surgery to repair ankle and foot damage following an auto collision can cost you tens of thousands of dollars.
  • Car accidents are one of the leading causes of amputations, including toes.
  • Car crashes are the leading cause of tarsal navicular fractures. This injury to the ankle bone can result in months of lost time at work and physical rehabilitation.
  • Ankle injuries related to accidents often require long stays at skilled nursing facilities or extended time for surgery recovery.

Like many other car accident injuries (soft tissue injuries, back injury, head injury, brain injury, broken leg, etc.), comminuted ankle fracture and foot wound can trigger long-term medical conditions requiring substantial medical treatment and rehabilitation (physical therapy), not to mention medical expenses.

Causes Of Ankle And Feet Injuries From Chicago Car Accidents

pie chart of illinois car crash injury causes

Types of Foot and Ankle Injuries from Chicago Car Accidents

Foot and ankle injuries from a car accident that leads to a settlement or other compensation can take many forms. The following list includes some of the most common examples:

  • Broken foot: Usually caused by a direct blow to the top or bottom of the foot, broken bones in the feet and ankles can make walking difficult and painful.
  • Dislocated foot: The most common dislocation is a Lisfranc injury, which often occurs when the midfoot area sustains whiplash during a car accident. If the dislocation is not surgically repaired, it can severely limit motion and speed up arthritis.
  • Strains: The muscles and tendons in the foot and ankle are prone to tearing or straining from a car accident. This injury can be very painful and make walking difficult.
  • Sprains: A sprain is an injury to the ligaments of the foot or ankle. Tearing a ligament can make it difficult to walk, and over time arthritis may develop due to instability in the ankle joint.
  • Bruises: The skin on our feet is not as thick as other parts of our body, making them susceptible to car accident injuries – including bruising. In severe foot and ankle injury cases, the blood vessels beneath the skin may be damaged and cause bleeding.
  • Contusions: Just like a bruise on any other part of your body, if the bottom of your foot or ankle swells, you may have a deep contusion. A contusion can lead to foot pain and difficulty walking, and if left untreated, it could lead to other problems.
  • Plantar Fasciitis: An injury that often occurs to the weight-bearing bones on the bottom of the foot and causes pain and difficulty walking. Plantar fasciitis can worsen and spread throughout the entire lower leg if not properly treated.
  • Neuroma: A neuroma is a benign tumor caused by an inflammation of a nerve between two toes or under the ball of the foot. Symptoms of a neuroma may include pain, swelling, and numbness.
  • Toe Injuries: Fractures to the small bones in the toes are more common than many people think, especially if you had lost your protective footwear or were not wearing proper footwear at all when you had your accident.

Treatment for an Ankle Injury after Car Accidents

Non-surgical treatment might be required if your ankle is steady and no bones are misaligned. Home recuperation, bandaging, and the usage of a brace for stabilization can aid with ailments that do not require surgery or intensive care. In situations like this, ankle injury settlements are more likely to be lower.

Doctors advised you to follow the R.I.C.E. approach for the first few days if you fractured your ankle in a car accident.

  • Rest: Make an effort to avoid putting your ankle out more than necessary by avoiding strain.
  • Ice: For 15 to 20 minutes, place ice on the injury, which can help to reduce swelling.
  • Compression: An elastic wrap may also aid in the reduction of swelling and pain.
  • Elevation: To decrease swelling, keep your ankle above the level of your heart at all times, especially at night. Gravity aids in the drainage of any extra fluid.

A severely broken ankle, in which the fracture has resulted in a dislocation of the ankle, might need surgery. Likewise, a compound break, in which the bone penetrates through the skin, almost always necessitates surgery to clean up the region and minimize infection risk.

If you need surgery on several fractured parts of your ankle, your ankle injury compensation will be greater. In addition, any difficulties or infections may lead to permanent injury such as arthritis caused by a break in the ankle.

Case Value of Claims for Ankle and Feet Injuries in Chicago Auto Accidents

The best way to gauge your insurance claim in Illinois will be worth looking at your motor vehicle accident facts and circumstances. When you do, ask yourself these questions:

  • Did you incur substantial medical bills due to the event?
  • Did the crash leave you with a badly sprained ankle, scarred, disabled, or changed in any negative way?
  • Did you have long absences from work because of the accident?
  • Did someone pass away as a result of the unfortunate event?

Affirmative answers on any of these concerns may mean you are allowed to recover substantially under the laws of Illinois. It is important to consult with an experienced car accident lawyer to understand your specific recovery options!

Average Settlement for Broken Ankle Case

A broken ankle is one of the most common injuries in Chicago car accidents. Many people who have suffered an ankle injury are interested in compensation and the “average” settlement value.

Unfortunately, the fact is that there is no real “average” amount that victims of this condition obtain because no one is keeping track of all ankle injury settlements and verdicts throughout the country.

The most effective way to estimate your claim’s worth in an ankle injury claim depends on how an ankle injury compensation calculator incorporates pain and suffering into the equation. The following are some of the factors that will determine this:

Sprained Ankles and Foot Injury Cases

A sprain is an injury to soft tissue. Not all sprained ankles are the same. Ankle sprains are classified into three grades: grade I, the mildest, and III, the most severe.

The amount of strain you sustain in your sprain and your age can also influence the severity of the injury. For example, an older age might indicate that your ankle will probably never heal completely, which means a lifetime of possible discomfort.

Even a minor sprain might be influenced by your age, the severity of your sprain, and the physical therapy needed over time.

Breaks in Your Ankle

The average cost of a broken ankle without surgery is between $10,000 and $25,000.

This amount is likely to be higher for you if you require surgery or significant medical treatment due to your ankle fracture. Also, the more ankle bones that are fractured, the greater your compensation will be.

In certain circumstances, a verdict’s pain and a suffering component may account for a significant portion of the higher ankle injury compensation amounts.

Pain and Suffering

The amount of pain and anguish you experience in a severe ankle fracture case will be determined by whether or not you require surgery. If you need surgery, it’s most likely a bimalleolar ankle fracture in your ankle that necessitates the procedure.

This type of break, including the trimalleolar ankle fractures, usually requires multiple surgical procedures to fix the injury. In addition, your pain and suffering will be immense, which means you’ll receive a much larger amount in your ankle injury settlement because you had to endure this degree of agony.

All of these factors contribute to increased potential ankle injury settlement amounts when pain and suffering are considered.

Car Accident Ankle Injury: Jury Verdicts and Settlements in Illinois

Below are some sample car accident cases involving ankle injuries. We invite you to review this information on these cases as part of your background information.

Should you have additional questions or are looking for a legal consultation, contact our Chicago, IL law firm for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney.

$1,300,000 Settlement:

The plaintiff in his early fifties was driving down Elmhurst Road just west of Chicago when another car swerved into his lane. The man tried to avoid a collision but ended up hitting another car. The accident left him with ankle fractures and ligament damage in both ankles.

He needed arthroscopic surgery, generating future ankle fusion-medical expenses, which were more than $350,000, and lost wages were more than $100,000.

As a result, he brought a claim against the driver and employer for damages, including lost wages, medical treatment bills, pain, disability, suffering, and related harms. The defendants settled with him for a reported $1.3 million.

$939,000 Settlement:

A woman in her late forties was driving her passenger vehicle down Route 34 in southern Illinois. Near her, two large trucks collided, and one of them hit her motor vehicle head-on.

She broke her right ankle and had to undergo emergency medical treatment. The medical expenses were over $200,000 and lost wages-she worked as a bus driver topped $30,000.

The woman claimed her career was over due to her injuries from this event. Eventually, she brought a car accident and an ankle injury case against the truck driver and his company.

Despite some initial protestations and pre-trial motions, both sides settled the personal injury claim, and the injured victim received the settlement amount of $939,999. This case was the largest financial compensation awarded in the area for the case type.

$1,750,000 Settlement:

A 30-year-old woman’s passenger vehicle was clipped as she attempted to change lanes on Interstate 94 in Chicago. Her car was sent into a tailspin immediately after being rear-ended. She broke her foot, hip, pelvis, femur and suffered other serious personal injuries, including drop foot.

The medical treatment cost her almost $200,000. The defendant driver initially contested the dispute and alleged she was responsible for her distracted driving.

However, this did not hold up over time and his insurance company, Great West Casualty, eventually paid out a settlement amount of $1.75 million for her damages.

$725,000 Settlement:

A 45-year-old woman was driving in Wayne, Illinois, when a large truck crossed the line and hit her motor vehicle. They were driving on Route 59. She has a broken ankle, fractured several ribs, and cut her eye. The medical expenses claimed in the complaint were more than $100,000, but she did not claim lost wages.

A private health insurance company resolved her car accident case against the truck driver. The two sides settled the matter for a financial compensation package of $725,000 for her economic and non-economic damages.

$2,500,000 Settlement:

The plaintiff, in this case, was a 47-year-old woman when another motorist hit her. The defendant driver initially accused her of “contributory negligence,” but it became clear that he was liable for the personal injury event during discovery and depositions.

The plaintiff suffered and broke her right ankle and knee and had to undergo a skin graft on her legs. Her medical bills exceeded $272,000.

The defendant’s insurance company initially denied the claim, arguing that they did not owe anything in this case due to contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff.

However, their position changed over time as the personal injury lawyer for the plaintiff gathered evidence and successfully pursued a car accident and ankle injury settlement of $2.5 million, the maximum amount allowed under state law.

Time Limits for Claiming Ankle Injury Compensation After a Car Accident

There is a time limit for claiming compensation for an ankle injury caused by a car accident. The time limit is because the insurance company will delay payment to investigate whether there is another party that may have been responsible for the accident.

If you wait until you are ready to file a claim, they can say that you have taken too long, so their investigation has come to a close. The time limit within which you must file your claim is called the “statute of limitations.”

The time limit does not apply in ankle injury cases suffered by a minor, allowing a litigation friend such as a parent to claim against them before they reach 18 years old. Importantly, if no claim is made when the kid becomes an adult, they have until their 21st birthday to do so.

There are other rules about accident claims in Illinois, so it is always advisable to consult with an experienced car accident attorney before filing such a claim.

Talk to Our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers About Your Foot or Ankle Injury

Have you suffered ankle or foot injuries, a sprained ankle, or ankle fusion in a car wreck requiring surgery or ongoing physical therapy?

The personal injury lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC stand up for plaintiffs injured due to other motorists’ negligent or intentional misconduct, including truck drivers and irresponsible drivers.

A car accident attorney from our law firm can discuss your case and what settlement amount may be possible in a no-obligation, free consultation. Plus, we accept all broken ankle cases on contingency, so you do not have to worry about attorney fee payment about anything unless we win for you!

If you injured your ankle or foot in a Chicago car crash, contact us today at (888) 424-5757 or use the contact form. We can work with you to craft a legal strategy that maximizes your recovery under the laws of Illinois.

Client Reviews

Jonathan Rosenfeld was professionally objective, timely, and knowledgeable. Also, his advice was extremely effective regarding my case. In addition, Jonathan was understanding and patient pertaining to any of my questions or concerns. I was very happy with the end result and I highly recommend Jonathan Rosenfeld.

- Michonne Proulx

Extremely impressed with this law firm. They took control of a bad motorcycle crash that left my uncle seriously injured. Without any guarantee of a financial recovery, they went out and hired accident investigators and engineers to help prove how the accident happened. I am grateful that they worked on a contingency fee basis as there was no way we could have paid for these services on our own.

- Ethan Armstrong

Jonathan helped my family heal and get compensation after our child was suffered a life threatening injury at daycare. He was sympathetic and in constant contact with us letting us know all he knew every step of the way. We were so blessed to find Jonathan!

- Giulia

This lawyer really helped me get compensation for my motorcycle accident case. I know there is no way that I could have gotten anywhere near the amount that Mr. Rosenfeld was able to get to settle my case. Thank you.

- Daniel Kaim

Jonathan did a great job helping my family navigate through a lengthy lawsuit involving my grandmother's death in a nursing home. Through every step of the case, Jonathan kept my family informed of the progression of the case. Although our case eventually settled at a mediation, I really was impressed at how well prepared Jonathan was to take the case to trial.

- Lisa
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